Upon seeing the crochet items Amigami has for sale, particularly the Mushroom Pouches, my longtime friend came to me requesting a piece of custom work. He loved the idea of a plush lined pouch, and wanted to know if I could make a pig. This darling piggy pouch is the result.

Made using the spiraling Amigurumi crochet technique, this super soft piggy is made from Lion Brand Baby yarn, and measures about 8″ x 5″. The ears, feet, and snout were crocheted separately and attached during the construction process, along with the black button eyes (with white embroidery floss). The pig’s curly tail doubles as a drawstring – when it’s pulled tight & knotted closed, not only does it appear pig-like, it also disguises the pouch’s opening!

The inner liner is actually a continuation of the crochet work. Once the opening is completed, I simply continue crocheting a tapered oval shape, then turn it inside-out into the pig and use the yarn’s slack to tack it down through the snout.

This little pig is super cute, and I’m absolutely inspired to delve further into the animal kingdom. If you have any ideas for my next animal pouch, please share!

Worry Dolls are a traditional Guatemalan custom, but these have taken on a Japanese twist! A popular children’s gift, worry dolls are commonly kept under pillows at night to ward off worries & anxieties. Customarily made with household items such as clothespins and bits of fabric, worry dolls are a great way to transform scrap materials into awesome works of art.When I was young I learned a worry doll technique using tooth picks and leftover embroidery floss. I feel using floss instead of fabric allows for more detail, both in terms of color & design as well as the actual contours of the figure. The faces are left blank so you can draw a smile on once the source or worry is gone!These worry dolls, like much of the art in the Amigami collection, have taken on a a Japanese twist. The pair of Geisha, in shades of pink and violet, are inspired by summer flowers. Their ensemble is complete with rear bow, the famous Geisha white face make-up, and hair neatly held in place (one even has “chopsticks!”)We also have Buddhist monks in their famous orange robes, as well as Miko (temple priestesses) with their customary red skirt and flowing hair.
And last but certainly not least is their packaging. In brilliant emerald green, the “worry box” is hand-woven from cattails of northern Appalachia. These leaves were collected and dried personally, in a special dark room designed to retain the plants’ vivid color.Case & lid each measure about 2.5″ x 4″ and fit neatly inside one another. Water resistant and incredibly strong, this case is a perfect way to store your keepsakes, including your worry dolls!
This entire collection is now available in my Etsy shop! And of course, I am always happy to make custom worry dolls or cattail boxes – just ask!

Hemp jewelry never seems to go out of style, and it is one of the most often requested crafts I create. And for good reason – it is incredibly strong, easy to work with, and withstands the tests of time and wear. Honestly, I had never worked with hemp until a few years ago. My prior experience with knotted bracelets however, was solely in embroidery floss, (which employs several of the same techniques) so the transition to hemp was fairly simple.

These lovely hemp bracelets are dedicated to the beginning of summer, and are great for people of all ages. Each bracelet is constructed through a series of alternating square knots, punctuated by wooden vintage-style round beads. The neutral color scheme of the bracelet, accented by the red and black bead patterns, truly make this a go-to piece for any summer outfit or occasion.

As alluded to above, I’ve also been working with my traditional medium of embroidery floss. The plethora of colors available, along with the more pliable nature of floss, allow for a vast array of color and pattern variations. These are just a few simple examples, but I hope to feature larger, more complex pieces in the near future.

I particularly enjoy the piece which has come to be known as the “Rasta Bracelet.” Constructed using the traditional technique of double overhand knots, these bracelets feature repeating bars of Rastafari red, gold & green separated by fields of black. Adding dance and movement, thin braids dangle from either end of the bracelet, which really makes them stand out from the pack. These bracelets are great for either gender, and add a playful splash to any ensemble.

If you are interested in either of the designs, please check my Etsy shop – they will be posted soon! And of course, if you have an idea of your own you would like to see materialized, I am always available for custom requests.